Hickory Hills fire that hurt 4 is probed

December 20, 2003|By Nancy Munson, Tribune staff reporter.

Fire officials in Hickory Hills said they were waiting to talk to a woman who may have been lighting a fire in her wood-burning fireplace Thursday when a blaze broke out, injuring her and three of her four children.

Samar Hadid, of the 9300 block of 77th Court, was taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood with severe burns and remained unable to answer questions Friday, said Chief Bill Doherty of the Roberts Park Fire Protection District.

"It would be very helpful if she could explain what she was doing," Doherty said. "We're focusing on what her actions were and how she was trying to start the fire," he said. No natural gas was involved, officials said.

Fire, smoke and a possible explosion were reported to police about 5 p.m. Thursday. Officers, who reached the house before firefighters, searched but found no one inside, Doherty said.

Hadid was found on fire outside, and several neighbors had run over to smother the flames. The family initially was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

"I saw the woman engulfed in flames on the front lawn," said Susan Michaels, who lives across the street. Michaels' son called 911 after one of the Hadid children ran to the Michaels' home screaming that she needed help.

Hadid and the youngest child were flown to the burn unit at Loyola, and another child was taken by ambulance to Loyola. A third child was taken to Stroger Hospital, and a fourth child was not injured, Doherty said.

A spokesman for Loyola would not release any information about the Hadids.